Rainy Days on Sunday

La Niña has inched its way into our summer. I love rainy days especially on Sundays. It gives me good reason to just curl up in a corner with a good book or snuggle up with my honey and watch Turner Classic movies. Sad to say this does not happen very often but when it does, I take advantage and play up that cozy comforting atmosphere by brewing something in the kitchen. It was the perfect time to make this Slow-Cooked Pork Belly recipe I have eyed but have not had time to make. It embodied the feeling of hominess, just by the smell alone. And what’s good about slow-cook meals is that I get to settle in my corner while it’s cooking.

Slow Cooked Pork Belly

What you need:

400g pork belly

½ cup Kikkoman Soy Sauce

¼ cup Chinese cooking wine (in absence I used dry white wine)

1 tbsp. Brown sugar

3 cloves Garlic, minced

2 tsp. Ginger

¼ tsp. Pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. Ground sage

What you do:

In a bowl, except for the pork belly, mix all remaining ingredients.

Use that mixture to marinade the pork belly, best if overnight but a few hours will suffice.

On a hot pan, sear the marinated pork belly on all sides until golden.

Pour the marinade into a slow cooker and transfer the pork.

Set to 75 – 90˚C and let cook for 4-6 hours, until the pork belly is fork tender.

What can I say? Our rainy Sunday reward was a meal of tender, flavorful, slightly caramelized meat with a wicked sauce best topped with rice.